Campione! - Volume 17 - Chapter 2.3

Part 3 

Higher than the clouds. A place above the atmosphere.  

This was an extremely high altitude in the sky that people called a satellite orbit.  A domain in space, beyond the atmosphere.  

Looking down from there, the view was like a map spreading out with the islands  of Japan in the center.  

Even as a heavenly child of the sky, the Wind King seldom came to such high  places.  

Depending on sunlight conditions, this place could turn into either a land of frost  or a realm of scorching heat. An extremely harsh environment. However,  protected by divine authority, he floated through the air lightly while he soared.  

Floating in front of his gaze was a small patch of land.  

Like many small islands on the Pacific Ocean, it had hills and plains. However,  this island did not contain life such as plants. It was an island composed only of  soil and rocks.  

Stabbed in the center of the island was a sword of steel.  

This mighty sword had a blade of roughly 100cm in length. The sword was  double-edged and thick like a hatchet's blade in construction. However, the entire  steel sword was quite decrepit, covered in rust.  

The Divine Sword of Salvation. This was the personal sword belonging to the  hero of Devil King extermination, also the strongest of steel.  

Then the Wind King poured divine power into the medallion. This was the divine  artifact for employing the three sword-related heroes, the [Arrowhead's Discus].  

The Discus glowed immediately. 

Appearing out of intense blazing white flames was the man with the handsome  face, Perseus.  

Furthermore, sitting astride a winged horse, he was the very image of a dazzling  handsome man.  

Next, out surged a crimson pillar of fire, which then took on the form of the Great  Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong. The peerless monkey king was riding a  small golden cloud.  

Finally, lightning shot out, turning into the figure of Lancelot du Lac.  

This female knight was also an Amazonian queen. Lance in hand, she was riding  a white horse flying through the sky.  

Including the Wind King, gathered in front of the Divine Sword of Salvation was  a total of four gods possessing the sword attribute.  

"Hey there, everyone."  

The Great Sage Equaling Heaven was the first to speak.  

"Before we begin our quest, I've got a suggestion. It's truly a lucky occasion for  four magnificent heroes to be gathered together. But it does mean we have too  many leaders, so to prevent things from getting out of hand..."  

It was like he wanted to have a casual chat on the extremely high altitude of a  satellite orbit.  

As expected of the monkey king who flew freely wherever he pleased. However,  the subject of the conversation was far too deplorable.  

"Why not let me, Great Sage Sun, be the great general and grand marshal, to  serve as the eldest brother, and you guys can provide me with full support? How  'bout that?"  

"Although I don't mind discussing the topic of electing a leader..." 

While seated on his winged horse's saddle, Perseus frowned.  

"I don't believe there is any need to leave this position to you. Rather, someone  possessing kingly accomplishments and a magnificent array of myths, such as  Perseus or Mithras for example, would be more suitable. That being said, I am  both of them, incidentally..."  

"If a king's pride is at stake, I hope you won't forget the Handsome Monkey King  of the Fruit and Flower Mountain's Water Curtain Cave. Besides..."  

The Great Sage scoffed with pride.  

"I'm also renowned as the Great Sage Equaling Heaven. If we're deciding based  on personal virtue and accomplishments, this old Sun here, peerless across  heaven and earth, is the best choice..."  

"According to legend, whether the Handsome Monkey King or being equal to  heaven, both were merely self-proclaimed on your part."  

"Yes, it's self-proclaimed. But in modern times, all citizens of the world have  recognized it."  

"How suspicious. At least back in the ancient Greco-Roman era of my  knowledge, I have never heard of such notions."  

"No no no no. You've gone too far now. I must issue a rebuttal for the sake of my  honor."  

"Great Sage, Perseus, gentlemen."  

Lancelot interrupted, her beautiful face clouded with worry.  

"This type of fruitless discussion would be nothing more than a waste of time.  One shall hereby take on the leader's role as the Amazonian queen as well as the  superbly renowned Lancelot du Lac. Each of you may apply yourselves with  utmost dedication as knights to serve the queen. Gentlemen, would that be  agreeable?" 

"Agreeable, not... Rather, I can't believe what a shameless woman you are despite  having such a cute face."  

"Although I don't dislike this sort of bronco, I still believe I am the one most  suited to be king, do you all agree?"  

The great heroes of exalted renown were having a completely futile dispute.  

At this moment, an acute metallic sound was heard. The three heroes turned their  heads to see that the Wind King had flicked his finger against the Discus to make  the sound.  

"..."  

The war god with the concealed identity expressed his feelings of disapproval  through his gaze from behind the mask.  

The Great Sage Equaling Heaven shrugged in response to that gaze.  

"There's no need to hide your voice, y'know? I've already seen through your  identity."  

"Hoh."  

Perseus laughed and openly expressed his impressed feelings.  

"In that case, Your Excellency the Monkey, perhaps I, Perseus, might have  misjudged you as a man. I still have yet to discern that wind god's true identity.  Your eyes truly bear outstanding wisdom."  

"It's the smell, the smell. One whiff of his odor and I figured it out immediately."  The Great Sage sniffed through his monkey nostrils.  

He was visibly pleased after Perseus praised him despite their dispute.  

Then the three heroes' gazes gathered on the Wind King, waiting for him to  speak. However, the mysterious war god of steel and wind simply extended an 

index finger, pointing to the divine sword stabbed in the center of the floating  island.  

"What a stingy dude."  

Despite complaining, the Great Sage still steered his cloud towards the floating  island.  

Perseus shrugged whereas Lancelot simply followed the king of monkeys  nonchalantly. The Wind King also flew leisurely in the rear.  

There was not the slightest greenery on the floating island. It was like a barren  hill with only soil and rock.  

They landed on its surface, roughly the size of a baseball field. Apart from the  Wind King, the rest all traveled without walking by either riding their beloved  steed or cloud. With that, the four heroes arrived before the rust-speckled divine  sword.  

"Well then... Let's begin."  

The Great Sage muttered.  

Just prior to arriving at Japan, Pallas Athena had summoned the three heroes to  give them certain orders which were meant to be executed as soon as the time  was right.  

Gathered at this place were sword gods—Warriors carrying the attribute of  "dragon and serpent slaying."  

As a result, everyone noticed. Several hundred kilometers down below their  location, Pallas Athena had released the seal of dragons and snakes to launch a  frenzied offensive.  

As queens and former deities, dragons and serpents were precisely the monsters  which these mother earth goddesses manifested into. 

For heroes of steel, they were targets to be vanquished since the age of the myths.  Sensing her aura, the four heroes felt their bodies and minds surge with power in  preparation for combat.  

"Hey you, Divine Sword of Salvation."  

The Great Sage spoke to the rust-speckled steel sword that had lost its splendor of  days past.  

Not only was he a monkey and a hero, but he was also a user of the immortal arts  with vast and varied powers—In other words, a god of magic. Hence, he was  going to preside over the revival ritual as well.  

The other warrior heroes took a step back, observing from behind the monkey  king.  

"You sleepyhead must have sensed the presence of our long-time enemy, the  serpent, haven't you? The hero's destiny engraved on the bottom of your soul  should have made your body boil with hot blood, hasn't it?"  

The Great Sage sounded like he was chatting with an old friend.  No answer. However, the rusted divine sword's blade began to shake.  

Storm clouds were suddenly gathering in the lower realm far below with thunder  and lightning. From this vantage point on a satellite orbit, even the sea of clouds  looked like nothing more than distant specks in the world below.  

"And that's not all. A number of contemptible godslayers have been born in the  current era. There's the old Devil King who's like a ravenous wolf and the queen  who shamelessly calls herself peerless under the sky. Then there's the witch with  no talents other than bringing calamity to the world. Plus four other youngsters— A total of seven godslayers, extolling the present era as their springtime..."  

While he was speaking softly, a sphere of light appeared above the Great Sage's  head. 

The sphere was as big as a clenched fist. After manifesting, it ascended rapidly,  shining above the group of heroes like a miniature sun.  

"With these godslayers gathered upon the earth, this would be the so-called end  times. Now is the time that could be considered the end of the world."  

The rapidly rising sphere of light suddenly expanded.  

Within the blink of an eye, its diameter surpassed a hundred meters—roughly the  size of the floating island that had kept the divine sword concealed for a  millennium. Furthermore, this giant ball of light was suddenly releasing  lightning, giving off electrical sparks all over the place.  

"To slice apart the darkness of the end times, to eradicate the godslaying Devil  Kings, we hereby pray for the sword's rebirth. O most exalted sword of swords,  blade of blades. Thou art the blade of Devil King extermination. Thou art the  white light of salvation. Thou art the one born to kill all of the Rakshasa!"  

The Great Sage pointed his furry index finger up at the sky.  

Then he slowly lowered his finger to point directly at the divine sword. A  moment later, the ball of light overhead, which kept discharging electricity,  produced a continuous stream of thunder and lightning.  

Rumble—!  

Rumble—!  

Rumble—!  

Falling lightning and thunderous roars repeated over a hundred times. The  flashing light and energy were all absorbed by the Divine Sword of Salvation.  

Not only was it not blown away from the force but it also did not move the  slightest from its position.  

Confronted with this divine sword that remained unfazed to a slightly annoying  degree, the Great Sage invoked the final summons. 

"O sacred king manifesting at era's end, I hereby beseech thee to descend!"  This was both a prayer and a petition, as well as spell words imbued with power.  

The episode of falling thunder and lightning finally ended—The Divine Sword of  Salvation also recovered its shine.  

Having stood for over a thousand years, originally decrepit and all covered with  rust, the 100cm blade was infused with blindingly bright platinum radiance,  shining with sacred glory and splendor.  

Seeing this light, someone other than the Great Sage Equaling Heaven finally  spoke.  

"O king—O 'King of the End.' Although it is most unbelievable."  

It was Lancelot. While her honey-colored hair fluttered in the wind, the  Amazonian deity spoke:  

"Have you forgotten this knight's visage?"  

"No..."  

A hero suddenly manifested next to the divine sword.  

Long pale hair. A handsome man featuring a young face with exquisite features.  

However, etched upon his handsome, prim and proper face like rust was a sense  of irrecoverable weariness and battle-hardened ferocity. He was wearing a simple  blue tunic with pants of the same color and a cape of pure white on top.  

Slowly, as though touching something repulsive, he gripped the hilt of the divine  sword. 

"Of course I remember you, knight of the lancea. To think the day of our reunion  would arrive... Destiny is truly difficult to predict."  

"What a nostalgic name. Lancelot du Lac is currently this knight's name."  "Is that so? I see you have finally gained a new name."  

A refreshing smile surfaced on the aristocrat's weary and handsome face.  

In that instant, the rust-like expression was put away, replaced by elegant airs as  befitted one of highborn nobility. This was how he expressed his joy towards the  extraordinary fate binding him with Lancelot.  

However, this change soon ended. The "King of the End" withdrew his smile.  "Hello to you, Hero of Salvation."  

The Great Sage spoke in a giggling manner.  

"It's said in the human realm that those who arrive late to the banquet must gulp  down three drinks as punishment. You should descend upon the land like thunder  to greet that nation's godslayer, how 'bout that?"  

"..."  

The monkey king continued to talk enthusiastically to the completely nonchalant  aristocrat.  

"Naturally, it feels quite a shame to me as a warrior to relinquish the vanguard  position to someone else, but seeing as I owe my resurrection to you, I'll endure  without making a fuss—"  

"Not necessary."  

The 'King of the End' shook his head, giving a curt answer to the chattering  resurrected hero. 

"The way I see it, making such a move immediately after my return would be an  act of imprudence."  

"Hah."  

"Great Sage Equaling Heaven, although the value of your counsel may be worth  its weight in gold... Let us eschew that for now."  

"I see."  

Finding his enthusiasm met with instant rejection, the Great Sage whispered to  Perseus beside him in hopes of eliciting someone else's reaction.  

"...I didn't expect him to be so lacking in hot-bloodedness."  

"...Despite being rumored to be the man who exterminated all godslayers."  

The Greco-Roman hero scrutinized the 'King of the End' while showing a smile  of interest.  

"On the other hand, recklessly rushing headlong into battle would be rather  boorish. I find the Savior's thoughts understandable. Well then, shall we take a  break for now?"  

"Yes, thank you."  

Answering Perseus in the affirmative, the "King of the End" focused his gaze on  a certain person standing in the back.  

The Wind King whose true identity was hidden behind cloth and a mask. This  war god, who had been serving the Devil King exterminating hero even before  the era of ancient Gaul, silently stepped up and presented the [Arrowhead's  Discus].  

The master shook his head silently and communicated with his eyes.  

It was as though he were saying "you hold onto it for now." The masked  subordinate nodded in acknowledgement and stepped back again. 

This communication took place between master and subordinate linked by deep  bonds, requiring no speech to convey their thoughts.  

Then the Great Sage and Perseus turned into particles of light which were sucked  into the medallion.  

Their revival stemmed from the authority of the 'King of the End,' which mean  that they must merge with the [Arrowhead's Discus] regularly to recuperate in  order to sustain their manifestations.  

The Wind King also took a leap.  

With that, he turned into wind and left his master, leaving only Lancelot du Lac  behind— 

"You have grown weary of battle indeed."  

The female knight's quiet words conveyed sorrow while pity inhabited her eyes.  

Listening quietly, the 'King of the End' showed a weary smile and nodded to the  ally whom he was meeting after a separation of fifteen hundred years.  

Then Lancelot turned into light too and was sucked into the [Arrowhead's  Discus].  

Left on his own, the 'King of the End' took up the Divine Sword of Salvation  once more. On his back was a scabbard for carrying this mighty sword whose  blade measured 100cm long.  

Putting the divine sword away, the Devil King exterminating hero sighed.  "What now?"  

Suddenly, the floating island's surface was struck by violent shaking.  

Not just once but continuous shaking. A small island flying on a satellite orbit  could not possibly have an earthquake. The "King of the End' noticed instantly. 

"Falling...?"  

Someone was summoning the floating island to the ground—making the floating  island fall. This was shaking the entire island.  

Noticing the anomaly in the sky, Godou frowned.  

"...?"  

While clashing Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi's blade with Athena's long-shafted  scythe, he was also releasing magic power to the [Boar].  

Without warning, the winter night sky was filled with storm clouds and the  continuous roaring of thunder.  

Suddenly, a flash of white—no, platinum-colored—lightning sliced through the  darkness.  

"The return is finally accomplished, yes?"  

Pallas Athena spoke softly.  

"So you mean the 'King of the End' finally awakened!?"  

Godou questioned the young Divine Ancestor who was overcome with emotions.  

Pallas Athena did not answer but her eyes shone with seductive and ominous  light. Her eyes glowed red. Godou felt a sense of petrification throughout his  entire body. The Eyes of Medusa!  

"Guh...!"  

To resist the evil eyes of petrification, Godou further increased the magic body  permeating his entire body. 

Not only was he using Ama no Murakumo and the two incarnations of the [Boar]  and the [Bull] simultaneously, but he must also squeeze out more magic power in  desperation, just barely managing to defend.  

His lower body only turned into stone for an instant before returning to flesh  immediately.  

"True to the name of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven... He hath completed the  revival sooner than expected. In that case, one's duel against thee must be  adjourned for now. One must now proceed to the next stage of preparations."  

The young Pallas Athena smiled discreetly and issued a lengthy howl towards the  sky.  

The Pallas Athena in the distance—engaged in a melee battle with the [Boar] in  the form of a giant Medusa—sprouted a pair of black wings from her back. With  a forceful flap of her wings, she floated up in the sky.  

ROOOOOOAAAAAR!?  

The wingless [Boar] howled with displeasure at the enemy that had suddenly  flown into the air. However, with its right front leg and left hind leg turned into  stone, the [Boar] was unable to jump in pursuit of its opponent.  

Holding the scythe, the petite snake goddess also sprouted wings on her back and  soared into the sky.  

The two Pallas Athenas, one big and one small, finally met side by side in the air.  

" "O gods of the sky with Father Zeus first and foremost, one hereby draweth all  creation back to the motherland with mine authority of an earth mother goddess.  Ye shall not obstruct one's will!" "  

The two Pallas Athenas, one big and one small, chanted spell words  simultaneously.  

Then—A meteor crashed down from the dark sky blotted by storm clouds. 

No, this was no meteor. From the sky above Tokyo Bay, a small island was  crashing down on this Minamibousou region that included Kisarazu.  

"Is this the floating island...?"  

Godou realized it. Pallas Athena's authority had summoned this island to the  ground!  

"Can you release that!?"  

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!  

Responding to his frantic command, the [Boar] unleashed a supersonic howl at  maximum power towards the two Pallas Athenas.  

But the attack did not work. The supersonic pulse and shockwave was supposed  to pulverize the two Pallas Athenas in the air, big and small alike, but was  blocked by the shield.  

Using the bodies of divine beasts as its material, the shield with Medusa's face  carved on it—The divine shield, Aegis.  

It was the defensive armament that had been hovering next to the large Pallas  Athena, protecting her. This time, it also served as the protective barrier for the  two goddesses, shattering into fragments on its master's behalf.  

" "Go, go over to the 'King of the End'!" "  

The two Pallas Athenas shouted together and suddenly vanished.  

They had probably gone to pursue the "King of the End" and the floating island  that had fallen somewhere in the Bousou Peninsula. Godou could not leave those  two alone. He must pursue no matter what!  

"Kusanagi Godou!"  

It was Liliana's voice. Looking back, he found the silver-haired knight hurrying  over with the rest of his companions—Erica, Ena and Yuri. 

"Leave it to me. I will take you to Pallas Athena."  

"Flight magic, right? But I thought you can't use it if you don't know the  destination?"  

Godou asked Liliana who spoke first to make the offer.  

Flying spells, exclusive to witches, were extremely convenient but had many  limitations conversely. However...  

"F-Fear not."  

Arriving last and out of breath, Yuri spoke up.  

The others had probably conserved their energy and were far from strained. But  for the Hime-Miko who lacked physical stamina, this was quite intense exertion  already.  

"I have already used the spirit power of psychic sensing to capture the location  where the floating island crash landed. There should be no problem once I  transmit the imagery to Liliana-san..."  

Although still trying to catch her breath, Yuri also offered to help.  

Everyone was so reliable. Godou nodded and transmitted his thoughts to the  [Boar], your help is no longer needed for now.  

Dragging a pair of petrified legs, the [Boar] stared at the empty sky above the  beach.  

It was exuding an aura of raging frustration, having failed to destroy its target.  But since the targeted prey had already vanished, the [Boar] had no choice but to  disappear obediently.  

Godou also returned Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi back to his right arm. He  also released the [Bull]'s monstrous strength. 

The strain from using concurrent incarnations finally vanished, leaving his body  much relieved. Ena and Erica walked over to Godou's side.  

"Hey, Your Majesty, do you still remember the revival of the 'King of the End' in  Gaul?"  

Ena suddenly brought this up.  

"Back then, the goddess Artio offered her life as energy for the 'King of the End,'  right? Just now, Erica-san and Ena were discussing—"  

"Perhaps Pallas Athena might have the same intentions."  

"But did you know she declared she'll defeat the 'King of the End'?"  Godou scratched his head. However, Erica proposed a further hypothesis:  

"Hmm. Then using this as a pretext to approach the 'King of the End,' she will  launch a surprise attack—"  

"...I see."  

As the reincarnation of Athena, the goddess of war, she definitely might take this  course of action.  

Then another acquaintance's face surfaced in Godou's mind.  

That of the aristocrat he had met in Gaul a thousand five hundred years ago. His  taste for conflict was definitely not prolific and he did not enjoy unnecessary  fighting. In the end, would he accept Pallas Athena's challenge?  

The Devil King vanquishing hero versus the godslaying Devil King.  That hero and Godou were rivals destined for an inevitable duel.  

Godou noticed that he held an unexpectedly favorable impression of the 'King of  the End.' However, the important thing now was to track down Pallas Athena  first.